Fighting for North Dakotans Injured by Impaired Commercial Drivers
When a commercial driver gets behind the wheel after drinking, the results are often catastrophic. At Pringle & Herigstad, P.C., our North Dakota truck accident attorneys have spent more than a century helping injured people and grieving families hold negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable. We investigate what the driver, the carrier, and everyone in the chain did wrong, and we pursue the full compensation our clients deserve. From the first phone call, we take the pressure off your family and start building your case, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Why Injured North Dakotans Trust Pringle & Herigstad, P.C.
Choosing the right firm shapes the outcome of your case. Here is what sets our team apart.
- More than a century of experience: Founded in 1909, we have secured some of the largest verdicts and settlements in North Dakota history.
- Trial-ready reputation: We have litigated against national corporations and their insurers, and we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury.
- Truck-specific drunk driving experience: We know how to investigate crashes involving commercial drivers and alcohol or drug impairment. We have the resources and skills to secure BAC test results, electronic logging data, and black-box information, and use federal safety rules to prove negligence by the driver and the trucking company.
- Local knowledge: From our Grand Forks and Minot offices, we know North Dakota’s courts, judges, and roadways.
- No upfront cost: Your consultation is free, and we work on contingency, so you owe no attorneys’ fees unless we recover for you.
- Personal attention: We keep you informed at every step and translate complex legal issues into plain language.
You need a team that treats your recovery as its priority when you are facing lost wages and medical bills. When a commercial driver’s impairment turns a crash into a catastrophe, having a team that understands both drunk driving and trucking law can make all the difference for your family’s future.
Why an Impaired Trucker Faces a Higher Legal Standard
Federal law holds commercial drivers to a stricter BAC standard than everyone else on the road. A trucker is legally over the limit at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04, half the limit that applies to other North Dakota motorists. Federal safety rules also prohibit a trucker from drinking within four hours of going on duty or having any measured alcohol while operating the vehicle. A driver who violates these rules is placed out of service, and that violation can become powerful evidence of negligence in your claim.
Alcohol rarely acts alone. Federal hours-of-service limits cap a property-carrying trucker at 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window, and an impaired, fatigued driver is a dangerous combination we see far too often. Our attorneys move quickly to preserve the logs, testing records, and electronic data that prove what really happened. The sooner we get involved, the more of that evidence survives.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Your Injuries
A drunk trucking crash often involves more than one at-fault party. Depending on the facts, we may pursue claims against several parties.
- The truck driver: The driver can be liable for operating a commercial vehicle while impaired and causing the collision.
- The trucking company: A carrier that was reckless in hiring or keeping an unfit driver can face added responsibility for that decision.
- A bar, restaurant, or host: North Dakota’s dram shop law lets an injured person bring a claim against anyone who knowingly serves alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person or someone under 21.
- Maintenance and cargo companies: When poor maintenance or unsafe loading contributes to a crash, those companies may share the blame.
Identifying every responsible party matters, because it can mean the difference between a partial recovery and full compensation.
What North Dakota Law Means for Your Claim
North Dakota is a no-fault auto insurance state, so you generally must have a serious injury to step outside no-fault and pursue a full claim against the at-fault trucker. State law defines a serious injury to include death, dismemberment, serious and permanent disfigurement, disability lasting more than 60 days, or medical expenses over $2,500. Serious truck crashes frequently meet that threshold. We document the full extent of your injuries, from emergency care to long-term rehabilitation, so nothing is left out of your claim.
North Dakota also follows modified comparative fault. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is not as great as the combined fault of everyone else. Generally, if you are less than 50 percent at fault, you can recover but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Injured victims can recover economic damages, including medical expenses, loss of income, and out-of-pocket expenses. When you step outside of the no-fault system, you can also recover non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life. When a driver caused a crash while under the influence, North Dakota law can allow a jury to consider exemplary damages meant to punish especially dangerous conduct.
Deadlines are strict. In most North Dakota injury cases you have six years to file, but only two years when a crash causes a wrongful death. Learn more about North Dakota’s filing deadlines, and reach out early so evidence is preserved before it disappears. If you also need help with a related car accident claim or a broader personal injury matter, we can guide you through those as well.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With a North Dakota Truck Accident Attorney
You do not have to face a trucking company and its insurer alone. At Pringle & Herigstad, P.C., we handle the investigation, the paperwork, and the negotiations so you can focus on healing. Contact us for a free consultation to get started. We work on contingency, so you owe no attorneys’ fees unless we recover for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the blood alcohol limit different for truck drivers in North Dakota?
Yes. A commercial driver is considered impaired at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04, half the 0.08 limit that applies to most other drivers. Federal rules also bar any alcohol use while on duty or within four hours before driving, and a violation places the driver out of service.
Can I sue the trucking company, not just the driver?
Often, yes. If a carrier was reckless in hiring or keeping an unfit driver, or otherwise contributed to the crash, it can be held responsible. We investigate the company’s hiring, training, and safety records to identify every source of recovery.
How long do I have to file a claim after a drunk driving truck crash?
Most North Dakota injury claims must be filed within six years, but wrongful death claims carry a two-year deadline. Because key evidence such as driver logs and testing records can disappear quickly, it is best to contact an attorney as soon as possible.